eat, move give & live

Expert tips for staying healthy this Christmas

It’s that wonderful time of year again. We make the same promise to ourselves that we won’t drink, eat or spend as much money on gifts but in reality, it’s hard to not indulge. We hand it over to the experts who will provide you tips on how you can eat smarter, move better, give wholeheartedly and live more this Christmas!

eat

Nicola Moore

Dietitian at Wesley LifeShape Clinic

Heading to a christmas party? Have a little something before you go. Cocktail style food is often unhealthy and fairly unsatisfying. Think salty chips, fried pastries and creamy dips or cheeses.

Having something beforehand will prevent “hungry eating” which leads to reaching for energy dense foods and overeating.

Christian Baker

Be as healthy as possible leading into Christmas: having excellent gut health, sufficient vitamins, minerals & micronutrients, exercising regularly and getting 8 hours of sleep every night will prepare your body to deal with the Christmas feast.

You’ll also be able to bounce back much faster than someone who turns up to the feast without optimal health.

Lulu Cook

There is no need to deny yourself the truly special and traditional foods that come around only once a year, but eat those veggies first - this helps you feel satisfied.

Favourite Christmas Food?

I make orange chocolate biscotti each year as a gift for people close to me…and I eat probably as many as I give away!

More tips from our other eat experts

move

Lizzy Williamson

Author of Two Minute Moves

A great way keep up our energy and fitness is to turn your housework chores into a workout.

Do some lunge walks when sweeping the floor, squats when hanging out the washing, do some push ups at the kitchen bench while putting dishes in the sink and pick up all the things left on the floor as fast as you can.

Favourite Activity?

Decorating the Christmas tree listening to cheesy Christmas carols.

Natalie Carter

Seriously do more of what you love! Why spend hours trying to complete exercise you hate over the holidays. Get outdoors in nature, ride a bike with your kids, play ball with your dog or turn on some tunes and be silly. It all counts as exercise!

Kelly Richardson

Move every day, even if it’s just a 20 minute walk. It helps to clear your head, keeps you away from the fridge and takes away a few turkey calories.

Favourite Activity?

Anything that has gymnastics in it, I love being upside down.

Shannah Kennedy

Founder of The Essentialists

Move your body every day, even for a short walk and a bit of a stretch before you get into bed. We are sitting, eating, drinking and talking so our energy gets stuck and tired. Move it around and keep resetting yourself.

Favourite Activity?

Walking and talking on the beach with family and friends.

Kusal Goonewardena

Physiotherapist at Elite Akademy

The following formula helps prevent you from feeling full, bloated, and lethargic during festive season.

Walk 20 minutes daily at moderate intensity. Do two activities at higher intensity 8-9 out of 10. eg. sprinting on the beach. Drink two litres of water daily – keeping hydrated is critical.

Favourite Activity?

Doing sprints with Kobe, our Labrador.

More tips from our other move experts

give

Dr Neil Carrington

Chief of Act for Kids

There's nothing quite like a Christmas through a child's eyes. Use this festive season as an opportunity to give vulnerable kids a second chance at childhood.

The more we give and do good for others, the happier we will feel at Christmas.

Favourite gift to give?

Sending my wife and daughters off to a musical show. And of course, Monster Crayons which is an inexpensive gift that goes towards a great cause.

Melanie Eager

Don’t over stretch the credit card. Pay by debit card if possible. Gifts don’t need to be expensive. There are plenty of home-made options such as bath salts, pure-fume made from essential oils or a jar of home-made granola or chutney.

Favourite gift to give?

Natural perfumes made from essential oils.

Amelia Harvey

Life coach and Meditation Teacher

Give back to yourself. Factor in a 10 minute meditation each day to stay calm and centred. Meditation improves our sleep and enhances decision making so you're less likely to to over indulge.

More tips from our other give experts

live

Natalie Carter

Practice gratitude and aim to sleep better. Log off from work emails/calls after 7pm (if possible).

Taking a balanced approach is easy to manage over time and will make life seem less chaotic. Habit change and accountability versus inconsistency and indecisiveness.

Favourite Christmas Movie or Song?

The kid in me loves Home Alone. “Keep the change ya filthy animal.”

Lizzy Williamson

Author of Two Minute Moves

It can be easy to be swept away by the Christmas rush and miss out on being present for some Christmas cheer.

Try having a dance-off in the living room, a mindful walk around the block or even ten deep breaths to help bring you back to the moment.

Favourite Christmas Movie or Song?

All I Want for Christmas Is You.

Nicola Moore

Dietitian at Wesley LifeShape Clinic

Don’t forget self-care. Build in some ‘me time’ such as movement, meditation, listening to music, cooking or reading a book where you can to recharge those batteries and head into the new year looking and feeling your best yet!

Favourite Christmas Movie or Song?

Throw back from many car trips as a kid from Rocky to the Gold Coast for Xmas – mum would always put a tape (yes a tape!) of Xmas songs and I remember one called “Sing a long with Max” (By graves I think!) and Bing Crosby was a favourite as well.

Kusal Goonewardena

Physiotherapist at Elite Akademy

When sleeping in a bed that isn’t your own, taking your own pillow makes a big difference. A lot of the problems to do with sleeping in a different bed stems from pillows you aren’t used to.

Consider using an extra pillow, placing it either between or under your knees while sleeping – this helps many back pain sufferers.

Amelia Harvey

Savour every moment! Each day, list 5 things you're grateful for to help you stay present and make the most of those festive season good vibes, without mindless over indulging.

Favourite Christmas Movie or Song?

All I Want for Christmas Is You.

Lulu Cook

Nutritionist, Health Coach & Author

Be gentle with yourself in the midst of the festive flurry. Sometimes the competing demands for our time, the cash register alarms ringing as we splurge on another gift, or the tensions that can arise with the expectations of family bonding can be trying.

Favourite Christmas Movie or Song?

Elf. I love how everyone just comes together at the end to believe in the power of Christmas and sing songs!